Massive water production from lunar ilmenite through reaction with endogenous hydrogen.

ABSTRACT: Finding water resources is a crucial objective of lunar missions. However, both hydroxyl (OH) and natural water (H₂O) have been reported to be scarce on the Moon. We propose a potential method for obtaining water on the Moon through H₂O formation via endogenous reactions in lunar regolith (LR), specifically through the reaction FeO/Fe₂O₃ + H → Fe + H₂O. This process is demonstrated using LR samples brought back by the Chang'E-5 mission. FeO and Fe₂O₃ are lunar minerals containing Fe oxides. Hydrogen (H) retained in lunar minerals from the solar wind can be used to produce water. The results of this study reveal that 51-76 mg of H₂O can be generated from 1 g of LR after melting at temperatures above 1,20

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11411434 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature